News
La Cuaresma – Lent
February 25, 2010
Photo courtesy of the Mexico Tourism Board Lent – Cuaresma In a way, Lent is like New Year’s Day –you give up things that you shouldn’t be having any way, like chocolate or drinking, usually with the hope of losing weight. But observant people do try to make real sacrifices during this time of reflection that begins today, Ash Wednesday and goes on for 40 days. In my family, lent was mostly a gastronomic experience. Sure, we gave up meat on Fridays but we had briny tortitas de camarón, dried shrimp patties... [Read the full story]
Weekly Specials
Valentine’s Day Menu celebrates famous Mexican Couples
February 8, 2010
Mexican Couples Celebrated at Zarela on Valentine's (Click on one image and they all will become large enough to see) Who are these couples and why did I choose to celebrate them this Valentine’s Day? This little selection represents a wide variety of love affairs. According to legend, the majestic Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl the volcanoes visible in their splendor on a clear day from Mexico City, were star-crossed human lovers who were turned into mountains. Popocatepetl is usually represented... [Read the full story]
Events
Women’s Campaign Fund Dinner and Hispanic Children’s Fund
March 9, 2010
The annual benefit for the Committee for the Hispanic Children’s Fund is one event where not only you will get to sample a wide array of Latino dishes (we are serving our famous chicharron (pork crackling salad) but you can dance Latin music to your heart’s content. At least that’s been the case in previous years while suppoting a very worthwhile charity. For more information For many years, I participated in the annual dinners of the Women’s Campaign Forum but got disillusioned when their... [Read the full story]
Causes
The Mexican Cultural Institute
June 13, 2009
When the Mexican Cultural Institute was founded in 1991 to create awareness of the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of Mexico and operated under the able leadership of Mireya Teran, I became an instant avid supporter. When Ms. Teran was made an ambassador and Juan Garcia de Oteyza became its director, the focus became more literary but my commitment to its mission continued. When he left the directorship I became disenchanted and slowly drifted away. However, last year a brilliant visionary Raul Jaime Zorrilla Arredondo... [Read the full story]
Ask Zarela!
Ask Zarela: Dried chiles and achiote
Photo by Laurie Smith LSmithPhoto.com There were two good questions yesterday and I love it that they both involve either a very traditional technique or ingredient, The first... [Read more]
More of Ask Zarela!
- Ask Zarela: Lard one more time.
- Letter to Mom
- Ask Zarela: Where can I get hoja santa?
- Ask Zarela: Netskies Casa del Sol, Juarez, Mexico
- What is the best sauce for a barbacoa?
- Altar for the Dead
- Enchiladas de Chorro -Pancake-like Enchiladas from Sonor
- Ask Zarela: Higado Encebollado- My Mother’s Smothered Liver
- Gallina Pinta or Pozole de Pobre
- The Best Thing I Ever Ate- Creamy Rice recipe
Mexican Celebrations
Women’s Campaign Fund Dinner and Hispanic Children’s Fund
The annual benefit for the Committee for the Hispanic Children’s Fund is one event where not only you will get to sample a wide array of Latino dishes (we are serving... [Read more]
More Mexican Celebrations
- Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and Muralism Without Walls -Mexican Cultural Institute
- La Candelaria in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz
- Festival of the City of Merida, Yucatan
- Three Kings’ Day Celebrations
- El Pedimento – New Year’s Eve in Mitla and Juquila, Oaxaca
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- The Thrill of Mariachi
- Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art Sale
- Celebrating two wonderful reviews in one day
Zarela Martinez
Cooking With Zarela
Catalan lamb and bean cassoulet
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Poblanos Rellenos de Picadillo
PLEASE NOTE: We are relaunching our website in the next few weeks and are working on a user-friendly recipe section so our selection is not as broad as... [Read more]
Ingredient of the Week
Yes! You can eat at Mexican food at Zarela if you’re on a diet!
Thanks to Tex-Mex, all Mexican food has gotten the reputation of being greasy, heavy and fattening at least among those who haven’ t traveled... [Read more]
Travel with Z
Pollo Relleno de Papas (Achiote-marinated chicken stuffed with potatoes)
Here is a delicious albeit time-consuming recipe using achiote. Check out the recipe section for Picadillo de Pobre where it is also used. Pollo Relleno... [Read more]